Mothballing a House

There are times when a historic building or home will need to sit for a few months because financing has fallen through or maybe the restoration plans have yet to be resolved. If this happens it is necessary to close up the home and prepare for it to be uninhabited for an indefinite amount of time. This means more than just drawing the shades and locking the door. This process is called "mothballing" and requires time and energy to make sure all systems within the house are turned off and that every step has been taken to ensure nothing such as rodents, water, trespassers can gain access to the building.

Mothballing Historic Buildings [Old House Journal]